West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari approved the transfer of seven national highway stretches to central government agencies this week.

The move aims to secure critical transit routes to Sikkim and the Northeast, addressing central government warnings regarding potential disruptions to strategic corridors. The transfer involves moving control from the state Public Works Department to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) [1], [2].

These stretches include vital sections of the Chicken Neck corridor and routes near Kolkata [1], [2]. The decision follows a period of administrative friction that resulted in a delay of nearly one year before the handover was finalized [1].

Improving these roads is considered essential for the movement of goods and military personnel into India's northeastern states. The central agencies now hold the authority to upgrade and maintain these specific segments to ensure they meet national strategic standards [2], [3].

By transferring the seven [2] stretches, the state government removes a significant bureaucratic hurdle that had stalled infrastructure development in the region. The NHAI and NHIDCL are expected to prioritize these routes to mitigate the risks cited by the center regarding the stability of the corridor [2], [3].

“West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari approved the transfer of seven national highway stretches to central government agencies”

The transfer of these highway stretches signals a resolution of tension between the West Bengal state government and the central government. Because the 'Chicken Neck' corridor is a narrow strip of land connecting mainland India to its northeast, any delay in infrastructure maintenance poses a national security risk. Moving control to the NHAI and NHIDCL allows for centralized funding and faster execution of strategic upgrades.